Abstract: A safety balloon catheter includes a catheter having a stretch valve, a connector, a balloon inflated with an inflation fluid, a hollow inflation lumen extending through the catheter to the balloon and conveying inflation fluid thereto and therefrom, a hollow second lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon to the second lumen. The stretch valve has a hollow base fixed in the second lumen at a proximal catheter end and shaped to permit a fluid therethrough and a hollow plug slidably positioned in the second lumen at a given distance from the base to, in a steady state, prevent inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, when actuated, slide within the second lumen to permit inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen. The connector connects the base and the plug and has a length greater than the given distance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer composition that includes a branched alkene which is cationically polymerizable as well as a glass-forming comonomer and/or a vinyl comonomer containing benzocyclobutene as the pendant group. The structure of the polymer composition can take various forms: linear random copolymer, linear block copolymer, star random copolymer, star block copolymer, and other hyperbranched polymers. The copolymer composition can undergoes crosslinking at elevated temperatures (preferably above 180° C.).

Abstract: An implantable medical device for electrical stimulation or sensing includes a body supporting at least one flexible elongate conductor element. The body includes an insulating structure that protects the flexible conductor element(s). The insulating structure is realized from multiple polymer layers wherein at least one of the polymer layers is formed from a polymer blend of a thermoplastic polyurethane material and an isobutylene block copolymer. In one particular embodiment, the insulating structure of the body includes at least a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer and a third polymer layer, where the second polymer layer covers and interfaces to the first polymer layer, and the third polymer layer covers and interfaces to the second polymer layer. The first polymer layer is formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane material. The third polymer layer is formed from an isobutylene block copolymer.

Abstract: A safety balloon catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen balloon catheter and a hollow barbell-shaped stretch valve. The balloon catheter has a proximal catheter end, a balloon defining a balloon interior to be inflated with an inflation fluid, a hollow inflation lumen extending through the catheter to the balloon interior and shaped to convey the inflation fluid to and from the balloon interior, and a hollow second lumen parallel to the inflation lumen; and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon interior to the second lumen. The stretch valve is shaped to permit a fluid to pass therethrough and positioned in the second lumen to at least partially slide therein such that, in a steady state, a distal barbell end of the stretch valve prevents the inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, in an actuated state, the distal barbell end slides within the second lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a delivery catheter having a deployable dynamic valve that rapidly opens and closes in response to relative fluid pressure thereabout. The valve is maintained in a collapsed configuration during introduction to a treatment site. A balloon element is provided between the delivery catheter and the valve and is adapted such that upon inflation it can move the valve from the collapsed configuration to a deployed configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer composition that includes a branched alkene which is cationically polymerizable as well as a glass-forming comonomer and/or a vinyl comonomer containing benzocyclobutene as the pendant group. The structure of the polymer composition can take various forms: linear random copolymer, linear block copolymer, star random copolymer, star block copolymer, and other hyperbranched polymers. The copolymer composition can undergoes crosslinking at elevated temperatures (preferably above 180° C.).

Abstract: A polymer blend is provided that includes a polycarbonate polyurethane polymer component having a water contact angle greater than 75 degrees and a polyurethane polymer component having a water contact angle less than 75 degrees. The polycarbonate polyurethane component and the other polyurethane polymer can be immiscible with respect to one another, and thus are phase separated in the polymer blend. The weight percentage of the polycarbonate polyurethane polymer component is greater than the weight percentage of the other polyurethane polymer component in the blend. The polymer blend is well suited for realizing a low friction surface of a variety of medical and non-medical devices.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is useful in an embolization procedure and enables substantially unrestricted forward flow of blood in a vessel and reduces or stops reflux (regurgitation or backward flow) of embolization agents which are introduced into the blood. A method of using the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An endovascular valve device for use in a vessel during a therapy procedure includes a catheter having at its distal end a valve. The valve is constructed of a braid of elongate first filaments coupled together at their proximal ends in a manner that the first filaments are movable relative to each other along their lengths. The first filaments have a spring bias that radially expands the valve. A filter is provided to the braid formed by electrostatically depositing or spinning polymeric second filaments onto the braided first filaments. The lumen of the catheter is in communication with the center of the valve.

Abstract: A method of making an ocular lens device (and resulting lens device) from a polyolefin copolymer material having a crosslinking component, wherein the material is processed to remove unwanted reaction byproducts that can contribute to reduced transparency of the polyolefin copolymer material in the ocular environment of the eye.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to surgically implantable supportive slings. More specifically, in various embodiments, the invention is directed to multilayer mesh slings formed from a tubular mesh material.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for introduction of laparoscopic instruments into an anatomical cavity through tissue at an entry site. The apparatus includes a body with a frustoconical-shaped wall. The body defines an interior cavity, an open bottom, and a substantially closed top wall with openings from which a plurality of ports extend upward therefrom. The ports are adapted to receive the laparoscopic instruments for introduction through the interior cavity and open bottom of the body into the anatomical cavity. In the preferred embodiment, the frustoconical-shaped wall of the body is placed through an incision in the umbilicus. In one aspect of the invention, the body is a unitary one-piece molded structure. A reinforcing belt or plate formed from a relatively hard material can be integral to the body.

Abstract: A safety catheter for draining a given fluid includes a hollow stretch valve and a flexible, multi-lumen, balloon drainage catheter having a proximal catheter end, a balloon defining a balloon interior to be inflated with an inflation fluid, a drain lumen. and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon interior to the drain lumen. The hollow stretch valve is shaped to permit the given fluid to pass therethrough and is positioned in the drain lumen to at least partially slide therein such that, in a steady state, the stretch valve prevents the inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port, and, in a stretched state when the proximal catheter end is stretched, the distal sliding portion slides within the drain lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the drain lumen.

Abstract: A safety balloon catheter includes a stretch valve and a balloon catheter having a proximal catheter end, a balloon defining an interior to be inflated with an inflation fluid, an inflation lumen extending through the shaft to the interior and shaped to convey inflation fluid thereto and from, a second lumen parallel to the inflation lumen, and a balloon drainage port fluidically connecting the balloon interior to the second lumen. The hollow stretch valve is shaped to permit a fluid to pass therethrough and is positioned in the second lumen to at least partially slide therein such that, in a steady state, the stretch valve prevents the inflation fluid from passing through the drainage port and, in an over-inflated state, the distal sliding portion slides within the second lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port and into the second lumen.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen shaft having an outer diameter, a distal tip, a proximal catheter end with a drain end and a proximal inflation end. The multi-lumen shaft defines a drain lumen, a distal hollow balloon portion, at least one inflation lumen, and a drainage port. A hollow stretch valve is coaxially disposed in the inflation or drainage lumen, or both, has a fixed portion within the inflation or drainage lumen, or both, and prevents fluid from passing through the drainage port in a steady state and has a sliding portion slidably disposed within the inflation or drainage lumen, or both, such that, in a stretched state when the proximal catheter end is stretched, the sliding portion slides within the inflation or drainage lumen, or both to permit fluid to pass through the balloon drainage port and/or wall of the catheter.

Abstract: A method of making an ocular lens device (and resulting lens device) from a polyolefin copolymer material having a crosslinking component, wherein the material is processed to remove unwanted reaction byproducts that can contribute to reduced transparency of the polyolefin copolymer material in the ocular environment of the eye.

Abstract: A stent-graft is coupled to an elongate flexible member at or near the distal end of the flexible member and configurable in both a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The stent-graft includes an expandable stent fixed to the flexible member. A portion of the expandable stent defines a generally tubular structure in its expanded configuration. A porous polymeric mesh interfaces circumferentially about the portion of the stent defines a generally tubular structure. The mesh is expandable with the stent and carries at least one therapeutic agent. When the stent-graft is in its expanded configuration and contacts the treatment site, the at least one therapeutic agent is transferred to the treatment site by operation of contact between the stent-graft and the treatment site. The mesh can define distal and proximal openings that allow for fluid flow through the stent-graft when the stent-graft is in the expanded configuration.

Abstract: A polymer blend is provided that includes a polycarbonate polyurethane polymer component having a water contact angle greater than 75 degrees and a polyurethane polymer component having a water contact angle less than 75 degrees. The polycarbonate polyurethane component and the other polyurethane polymer can be immiscible with respect to one another, and thus are phase separated in the polymer blend. The weight percentage of the polycarbonate polyurethane polymer component is greater than the weight percentage of the other polyurethane polymer component in the blend. The polymer blend is well suited for realizing a low friction surface of a variety of medical and non-medical devices.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen shaft having an outer diameter, a distal tip, a proximal catheter end with a drain end and a proximal inflation end. The multi-lumen shaft defines a drain lumen, a distal hollow balloon portion, at least one inflation lumen, and a drainage port. A hollow stretch valve is coaxially disposed in the drainage lumen and has a radially self-expandable proximal section fixedly connected within the drain lumen by self-expansion, a flexible intermediate section longitudinally movable within the drain lumen, and a distal plug movably positioned in the drain lumen to prevent fluid from passing through the drainage port in a steady state and being slidably disposed within the drain lumen such that, in a stretched state when the proximal catheter end is stretched, the distal plug slides within the drain lumen to permit the inflation fluid to pass through the drainage port.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a flexible, multi-lumen shaft having an outer diameter, a distal tip, a proximal catheter end with a drain end and a proximal inflation end. The multi-lumen shaft defines a drain lumen, a distal hollow balloon portion, at least one inflation lumen, and a drainage port. A hollow stretch valve is coaxially disposed in the drainage lumen, has a fixed portion within the drainage lumen just proximal of an increased stretching portion, and prevents fluid from passing through the drainage port in a steady state. The stretch valve has a sliding portion slidably disposed within the drainage lumen such that, in a stretched state when the proximal catheter end is stretched, the sliding portion slides within the drainage lumen to permit fluid to pass through the balloon drainage port and/or inner wall of the catheter.